Adjustable stilts



April 5, 1955 A. c. HRANICKA 2,705,637

ADJUSTABLE STILTS Filed April 7. 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. ALBERT C HRAN/CKA iuahmx .A TTQAWE Y;

April 5, 1955 A. c. HRANICKA ADJUSTABLE STILTS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 7. 1952 E m C. m E m A ATTORNEYS United States Patent ADJUSTABLE STILTS Albert C. Hranicka, New Richmond, Wis.

Application April 7, 1952, Serial No. 280,942

6 Claims. (Cl. 27270.2)

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in stilts of that particular type wherein the step of the stilt is mounted for vertical adjustment or movement upon the shaft or handle of the stilt.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a self-elevating step for a stilt which will automatically ascend from a lower to a higher elevation on the shaft of the stilt, as the user of the stilt walks along in the usual manner.

A further object of the invention is to provide a stilt having a vertically movable step comprising a ratchet mechanism which is rendered operative to automatically elevate the step on the shaft of the stilt, by the pressure intermittently imposed thereon by the usual walking movement of the individual using the stilts.

A further object of the invention is to provide a stilt comprising a vertically movable step which is supported in operative position on the shaft of the st1lt by a ratchet mechanism comprising a pair of coacting dogs adapted to cooperate with a ratchet bar secured to the shaft of the stilt to effect an upward step-by-step movement of the step on the stilt shaft, when the stilt is in use, and whereby the step may automatically ascend to a higher elevation on the shaft when the stilt is in use.

A further and more specific object of the invention is to provide a stilt comprising a shaft having a ratchet bar secured thereto, and a self-elevating step mounted for up-and-down movement on said shaft and comprising a holding dog and a lifting dog having spring means for constantly urging them into operative engagement with the ratchet bar in such a manner that when pressure is applied to the step, as when the user steps forwardly on the stilts, a slight downward movement is imparted to the step upon the stilt shaft which effects actuation of the dogs and causes them to alternately engage the teeth of the ratchet to thereby cause thestep to automatically ascend on the shaft when the stilt is in use.

A further object is to provide a self-elevating step for stilts comprising a housing having spaced walls and provided at one end with a tubular guide for receiving the shaft of the stilt, and a pair of dogs being mounted for bodily swinging movement within the housing whereby they may be actuated to alternately operatively engage the teeth of the ratchet bar and thereby cause the step to slowly automatically ascend to a higher elevation, when the stilt is in use.

Other objects of the invention reside in the provision of means for locking the step in fixed position on the shaft of the stilt; in means provided for rendering the lifting and holding dogs inoperative to permit the step to be freely slid along the shaft from one position to another; in the unique construction of the lifting and holding dogs whereby they may be assembled as a unit prior to being assembled in the housing; in the provision of the stud fixed in the holding dog, which stud has its end portions projecting through suitable clearance openings provided in the side walls of the housing and has spring means connected thereto for constantly urging the dogs into operating engagement with the teeth of the ratchet bar; and, in the provision of such a device which may be constructed of sheet metal in quantity production at very low cost.

These and other objects of the invention and the means for their attainment will be more apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings there has been disclosed a structure designed to carry out the various objects of the invention, but it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the exact features shown, as various changes may be made within the scope of the claims which follow.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a stilt showing my novel step mounted thereon, the step being shown in full lines in its lower position, and the dotted lines indicating the position of the step when in an elevated position;

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail sectional view substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 8, showing the parts in their normal positions;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 22 showing the step slightly depressed on the shaft to cause the lifting dog to swing to the next succeeding tooth on the ratchet bar;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, but showing the lifting dog engaged with the ratchet bar and the step about to return to its normal position shown in Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, but showing the operating lever positioned in engagement with the holding dog to retain said dog and the lifting dog in inoperative positions to permit free sliding movement of the step on the shaft;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5, but showing the operating lever positioned to lock the dogs in operative engagement with the ratchet bar thereby to lock the step in a fixed position on the shaft;

Figure 7 is a sectional plan view on the line 7--7 of Figure 2;

Figure 8 is a sectional plan view on the line 88 of Figure 2;

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view on the line 9--9 of Figure 2;

Figure 10 is an end view of the step removed from the shaft; and Figure 11 is a side view of Figure 10 with the operating lever in its normal inoperative position.

In the selective embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, there is illustrated in Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, a stilt comprising a shaft, generally designated by the numeral 2, which may be provided with a rubber tip 3 to minimize slippage on smooth or slippery surfaces. A ratchet bar, generally designated by the numeral 4, is secured to the lower portion of the shaft 2 and comprises a plurality of equi-spaced ratchet teeth 5.

To facilitate manufacture, the ratchet bar may be constructed of sheet metal and formed to provide an elongated body of U-shaped cross-section, as best illustrated in Figure 8. The spaced legs 6 of the ratchet bar may be received in longitudinally extended saw cuts or kerfs provided in the shaft 2, which preferably is of wood. By thus forming the ratchet bar from sheet metal stock, the ratchet teeth may readily be cut and formed by suitable dies as is well known in the art.

The body of the novel self-elevating step herein disclosed, is preferably formed from a single blank of sheet metal bent upon itself to provide a housing portion 7, comprising spaced walls 8-8 and provided at one end with a tubular guide 9 adapted to slidably receive the shaft 2 of the stilt, as clearly illustrated in the drawings.

In the formation of the body of the step, an enlargement is provided at the juncture between the walls 8-8 and the guide 9, as illustrated at 11 in Figure 8, thereby to provide ample clearance for the ratchet bar 4 and whereby the step may freely move up and down upon the shaft 2 in the operation 'of the stilt. The opposed walls 1212 of the enlargement 11 of the body of the step are disposed in parallel relation to the spaced legs 6 of the ratchet bar 4 and in proximity thereto, whereby said walls and legs cooperate to prevent relative rotation of the step upon the shaft of the stilt.

The opposed side walls 88 of housing 7 are shown having their upper marginal edge portions bent outwardly to provide flanges 13-13 to which is secured a horizontal tread 14, preferably by such means as spot welding indicated at 10 in Figure 7. By thus securing the tread 14 to the upper outwardly turned flanges 13 of the housing 7 said tread becomes in effect an integral part of the housing. To further strengthen the opposed side walls of the housing the lower portions of said walls may be bent inwardly and abuttingly engaged with one another, as shown at in Figures 10 and 11, and spot welded as indicated at 16 in Figure 11. To facilitate accurately spacing apart the housing walls 88, each wall is inwardly indented to provide inwardly directed button-like projections 20, which abuttingly engage each other as shown in Figure 10, and thus retain the walls in spaced relation while securing the tread 14 thereto.

The means provided for vertically translating the step upon the shaft is shown comprising a lifting dog 17 and a holding dog 18. These dogs are pivotally connected together by a pivot pin 19 whereby they may be assembled as a composite unit before being inserted into the housing 7.

To provide adequate strength and to facilitate manufacture, the holding dog 18 is preferably formed from an elongated piece of sheet metal folded upon itself as best illustrated in Figure 9, whereby said dog is composed of two plies of metal. The plies at the upper end of the dog are spaced apart as shown at 21 in Figure 9, to receive therebetween the lifting dog 17. The lower portions of the plies constituting the holding dog 18 are disposed in flatwise relation and may be suitably spot welded together to provide in effect an integral structure.

The lifting dog 17 is preferably shaped as shown in Figures 2 to 5, inclusive, and has an elongated guide slot 22 in the end portion thereof opposite from the ratchet bar 4. The slot 22 is traversed by a pin 23 having its end portions suitably secured in the side walls 88 of the housing 7. The lifting dog 17 also has an arcuately formed slot 24 in its intermediate portion adapted to receive a stud 25 mounted in the holding dog 18, as best illustrated in Figure 9.

The stud 25 as hereinbefore stated, passes through the arcuately formed slot 24 in the lifting dog 17 and through suitable enlarged openings 26 provided in the opposed walls 8-8 of the housing, as clearly illustrated in Figures 9 and 11. The stud 25 may be secured to the dog 18 by a press fit, and has its outwardly projecting end portions secured to the adjacent ends of a pair of springs 27. The opposite ends of the springs 27 may be anchored to outwardly bent portions 28 of the wall of the tubular guide 9, as illustrated in Figure 9.

An abutment pin 29 has its end portions fixed in the side walls 88 of the housing and is positioned in the path of the lifting dog 17 to limit downward swinging movement of the ratchet-engaging end thereof, as will be understood by reference to Figure 2. By reference to Figure 2 and particularly Figure 11, it will be noted that the spring elements 27, because of their connections with stud 25, constantly exert a downward and inward pull on the lifting dog 17 so that when the step is free or, in other words, is not effected by the weight of the users foot, the lifting dog will be retained in operative engagement with ratchet tooth A, and at the same time said dog is retained in abutting engagement with the abutment pin 29. When pressure is applied on the tread 14 of the step, as when an individual places his foot thereon, the step, as a whole, including the housing 7 and the tubular guide 9, will move slightly downwardly on the shaft 2 until the lower end of the holding dog 18 operatively engages in ratchet tooth B, whereupon the holding dog is prevented from further downward movement upon the shaft. The holding dog may then swing about the ratchet tooth B from the position shown in Figure 2 to that shown in Figure 3, or until the left hand end of the guide slot in the lifting dog 17 engages the pin 23, as shown in Figure 3. Such swinging movement of the holding dog 18 from the position shown in Figure 2 to that shown in Figure 3 against the tension of the spring elements 27, causes the lifting dog 17 to swing to the position shown in Figure 3, whereby its terminal 31 is about to snap into engagement with the next succeeding ratchet tooth, indicated at C in Figure 3.

When the downward pressure exerted on the tread 14 is released, as when the user of the stilt lifts his foot to take a forward step, the lifting dog remains in operative engagement with the tooth C, as shown in Figure 4, after which the step as a whole moves upwardly from the full to the dotted line position shown in Figure 4, or to its normal position shown in Figure 2, by the action of the spring elements 27. Such upward movement of the step upon the shaft 2 is effected because of the lower end of the holding dog engaging the ratchet bar at a point below the connecting points of the spring elements 27 with the guide 9, whereby the lower end of the holding dog provides a fulcrum therefor so that the spring elements 27 may return the parts to their normal positions, shown in Figure 2.

To further strengthen the step against the weight of the individual using the stilt, an intermediate portion of the tread 14 is shown bent downwardly to provide an abutment 32 for the upper end of the holding dog 18, when the step is moved downwardly to the position shown in Figure 4. As here shown, it will be noted that pressure exerted on the tread 14 is transmitted from the abutment 32 to the upper end of the holding dog 18, thence downwardly through said dog to the ratchet tooth with which the lower end of dog 18 is engaged, and directly onto the shaft 2.

Means is provided for rendering the dogs 17 and 18 ineffective to secure the step to the shaft. Such means is shown comprising a downwardly directed finger 33 provided on the intermediate portion of the holding dog 18 adapted to be engaged by the terminal 34 of a lever 35, mounted on a pivot pin 36 secured to the walls 88 of the housing 7, as clearly illustrated in Figures 2 to 6, inclusive. Lever 35 is normally supported in its inoperative position, shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, in which position it is frictionally retained by suitable indentations 37 provided in the side walls 88 of the housing, as illustrated in Figure 11. When so positioned the upper end 38 of the lever 35 is positioned adjacent to an upturned flange 39 provided on the adjacent end of the tread 14, whereby the user of the stilt may readily engage said lever with his toe and swing it downwardly to the position shown in Figure 5, when it is desired to lock the step against further upward movement.

When the lever 35 is positioned as shown in Figure 5, the dogs may be swung out of operative engagement with the ratchet bar 4 by simply exerting a downward pressure thereon, whereby the step may readily be slid freely along the shaft from one position to another. This feature is of particular advantage when it is desired to use the stilts lllitlgtthe treads secured in fixed position on their respective S a S.

To secure the step against relative movement upon the shaft 2, the user may exert a slight pressure on the tread 14 after the lever has been released from its inoperative position shown in Figures 2 and 3, whereupon the lever may gravitate to the position shown in Figure 6, against a stop 30, formed by the upper end of the indented portions 15 of the side walls 88 of the housing 7, as shown in Figure 6. When the lever 35 is so positioned, its terminal 34 will directly engage the lower end of the finger 33 and thereby lock the two dogs 17 and 18 in operative engagement with the ratchet bar, as will readily be understood by reference to Figure 7. When the operating levers 35 is thus positioned, the step is locked to the shaft of the stilt and cannot be longitudinally shifted thereon.

The novel stilt herein disclosed has been found very practical in actual use. A pair of stilts equipped with the novel self-elevating steps herein disclosed may be utilized as conventional stilts by merely locking the steps to their respective shafts, as shown in Figure 6. When the lever 35 is in its normal inoperative position shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, the steps will automatically climb their respective shafts as the user walks on the stilts. The climbing action of the steps, however, may be interrupted at any time by simply releasing the control lever 35 from its inoperative position, whereupon the next forward step on each stilt will cause the lever to assume the position shown in Figure 6, and thereby lock the steps to the shafts.

The construction of the unique self-elevating step herein disclosed, and also the construction of the shaft are extremely simple and inexpensive. All of the parts of the step with the exception of the necessary pins and studs may be formed from sheet metal by suitable blanking and forming dies, whereby the parts thereof may be manufactured in quantity production at small cost. The assembling of the parts is also extremely simple as the two dogs may be assembled as a composite unit for subsequent assembly within the completed housing of the step, as hereinbefore stated. Should the terminals of the lifting and holding dogs become excessively worn, a new set of dogs may readily be substituted for the worn dogs by an inexperienced person, as the parts and their orientation is such that they cannot be improperly assembled in the housing should it become necessary to replace some of the parts thereof.

The foregoing detailed dsceription has ben given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible in view of the prior art.

What I claim is:

l. A stilt comprising a shaft having a longitudinally extending rackbar thereon, a self-elevating step mounted on said shaft and comprising a housing having spaced side walls and provided with an upright tubular guide adapted to receive said shaft and slidably support the step thereon, a tread fixed to the upper end of said housing, said housing being adapted for relative limited up and down movement on said shaft, a lifting dog Within the housing having one end arranged to engage the rackbar and having an elongated guide in its opposite end portion, a pin traversing said guide slot and having its ends secured in the side walls of the housing, a holding dog within the housing having its upper end portion pivoted to the intermediate portion of the lifting dog, a stud secured in the holding dog and having its end portions extending outwardly through enlarged clearance openings in the side Walls of the housing whereby the upper end portions of said dogs are adapted for bodily swinging movement in a direction towards or away from the rackbar, spring elements connected to the ends of said stud and to the walls of the housing and constantly urging the upper end portions of said dogs inwardly towards the rackbar as a unit, said pin cooperating with said guide slot to cause the lifting dog to relatively swing on the holding dog, as the upper end portion of said dogs are swung outwardly away from the rackbar each time a downward pressure is initially exerted on the housing, as when the stilt is in use, and whereby the terminal of the lifting dog will advance to the next succeeding tooth on the rackbar, such relative limited up and down move ment of the housing on the shaft causing the dogs to alternately engage the teeth in the rackbar and cause the step to automatically ascend thereon.

2. A stilt according to claim 1, wherein a locking lever is pivotally mounted within the housing and has one end adapted to engage a finger provided on the holding dog, thereby to lock said dog and the lifting dog in locking engagement with the rackbar to prevent relative movement of the housing on the shaft.

3. A stilt according to claim 2, wherein means is provided on the walls of the housing for retaining the locking lever in inoperative position and whereby it may be readily released from said retaining means by the operator's foot, should it be found desirable to lock the step against relative movement on the shaft, when the stilt is m use.

4. A stilt comprising a shaft having a longitudinally extending rackbar thereon, a self-elevating step comprising a housing having spaced side walls, said housing being mounted for longitudinal sliding movement on the stilt t shaft and having a horizontal tread portion at its upper end, a lifting dog within the housing having one end arranged to engage said rackbar and having an elongated guide slot in its opposite end portions, a pin traversing said guide slot and having its end secured in the spaced walls of the housing, an abutment element fixed in the housing adapted to be engaged by the rackbar engaging end of the lifting dog to limit downward movement thereof, a holding dog havingits lower end positioned to engage the rackbar at an elevation below said lifting dog, means pivotally mountingthe lifting dog on the holding dog whereby it is adapted for relative pivotal movement thereon, the upper end portions of said dogs being bodily swingable t0 and from said rackbar about the lower terminal of the holding dog when engaged with a tooth on said rackbar, a stud mounted in the holding dog and having its end portions projecting outwardly through the enlarged openings in the side walls of the housing, spring elements secured to the projecting ends of said stud and to the walls of the housing for normally retaining the upper end portions of said dogs in their inner positions adjacent to the rackbar on said shaft, a depending finger on the intermediate portion of the holding dog, a lever having one end pivoted in the housing, means for normally retaining the lever in inoperative position, said lever being movable to a position to engage the finger on said holding dog and thereby secure the dogs in locking engagement with the rackbar to prevent relative movement of the step on the shaft, said housing being adapted for relative limited downward movement on said shaft to effect actuation of said dogs when downward pressure is initially applied to the housing by the operators foot, such limited downward movement of the housing on said shaft causing the upper portions of said dogs to move outwardly away from the rackbar and thereby cause the lifting dog to advance to the next tooth on the rackbar so that when the user removes his weight from said step, as when stepping forwardly, said spring elements will return the dogs to their inner positiions adjacent to the rackbar about the lower terminal of the lifting dog as a pivot, thereby elevating the step on the shaft and advancing the holding dog to the next succeeding tooth of the rackbar.

5. A self-elevating step according to claim 4, wherein the holding dog is made from an elongated blank of sheet metal folded transversely upon itself to provide a twoply holding dog, said plies being separated at the intermediate upper portion of said dog to receive the lifting dog therebetween.

6. A stilt comprising a shaft having a. rackbar secured thereon, a step mounted for sliding movement on said shaft and comprising a housing having spaced side walls, a horizontal tread secured to the upper end of the housing, a lifting dog within the housing having one end arranged to engage the rackbar and having an elongated guide slot in its opposite end portions, a pin traversing said guide slot and having its ends secured in the spaced walls of the housing, an abutment element fixed in the housing adapted to be engaged by the rackbar-engaging end of the lifting dog to limit downward movement thereof, an elongated holding dog having its lower end positioned to engage the rackbar, means pivotally mounting the lifting dog on the holding dog whereby it is adapted for relative pivotal movement thereon, the upper end portions of said dogs being bodily swingable to and from the rackbar about the lower terminal of the holding dog when engaged with a tooth of the rackbar, spring means operatively connected to the holding dog for normally retaining the upper end portions of said dogs in their inner positions adjacent to the rackbar, a depending finger on the intermediate portion of the holding dog, a lever having one end pivoted in the housing, means for normally retaining said lever in inoperative position, said lever being adapted to be swung to a position to engage the finger on said holding dog and swing said dogs out of engagement with the rackbar to permit free sliding movement of the step on the stilt shaft, said lever also being movable to a position to secure the dogs in locking engagement with the rackbar to prevent relative movement of the step upon the shaft, said housing being adapted for relative limited downward movement on said shaft to effect actuation of said dogs, when downward pressure is initially applied to the housing by the weight of the operators foot, such limited downward movement of the housing on said shaft causing the upper end portions of said dogs to swing outwardly away from the rackbar and thereby cause the lifting dog to advance to the next succeeding tooth on the rackbar so that when the user again removes the weight of his foot from said step, said spring means will return the dogs to their positions adjacent to the rackbar about the lower terminal of the lifting dog as a pivot, thereby elevating the housing on the shaft and advancing the holding dog to the next succeeding tooth on the rackbar.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,348,110 Hasskarl July 27, 1920 2,504,922 Dowell Apr, 18, 1950 2,531,251 Bruno Nov. 21, 1950 

